With only the backpack that she brought,
saddled and strapped to her shoulders,
she steps into the phone booth at dawn.
Just a girl in frayed denim, cheap pigskin boots
rounded at the heels ~ oriental exports,
with leathery half-notes like folded bills
in brass monogrammed money clips.
She'll give glossy cowgirl kisses from her lips
in exchange for a few assorted pills.
This true-grit sweetheart of life’s rodeo,
bare-backed and bruised in dark rooms
trading her silver fuckles for quarters,
had whoopie-tied her last one on,
been ridden hard and put up muddy,
down on that corner, of the wild west end.
She flips a butt, slips quarters into the slot.
“Daddy, she said, “I want to come home”
A contest entry
- Sunday Sort Of Suspense - One Day Quickie by CarolDesjarlais.
1400 points, ended September 28, 11 entries
Bronze trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
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It is not often I give 3 applause thingies
This is a very powerful and perfectly clear piece
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Wow!
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I like the story line on this one. I also notice a change in the cadence of your work - it's good.
Happy trails neighbor.
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I saw a phone booth over the weekend and wondered how long it had been since I'd actually used one ... how long since anyone actually used one.
This is a hard hitter, one that carries so much weight with mishandling of people all over the world. When will we stop hurting our own? Ahh - we have not quite evolved to that level of existence yet.
Fourth stanza finds the humanity in it and - how grateful I was to see that she "could" go home. so many perhaps, could never make that call.
I have been far too long away from your verse. What a gem to read to day. Thank you. ~Pamela
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Thank you for reading Pamela, I have been out of touch with the Lamp Post, I need to stop by.
Runaways have been on my mind lately, young girls have little recourse except trading the charms of their youth for existence.
I wanted to end the poem with a homecoming.
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Despite the obvious cultural differences, my being an Englishman that is, I fully comprehended and enjoyed “Rhine stoned cowgirl” and in the closing lines, I really felt for her too
Very nice work from the Sugar creek lady
Paul
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I can just imagine the courage it must have taken for this young girl to
get the nerve to call home and ask for help...wonderful job. Each day you
open the door and leave the security of your home you've entered the Rodeo
of Life.
Great Job!
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a trophy well deserved,
I love the story line and the imagery
you penned here,
it was so inviting!!
thank you so much for sharing
with love & blessings
Rend
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a good poem which transforms poetry into something brand new, you take poetry ionto another realm. ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪ ♫ ♪
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Just a girl in frayed denim, cheap pigskin boots
rounded at the heels ~ oriental exports,
I think of that song by Gwen Stefanni - and I'm just a girl... with folded pieces of paper, does that make the creas origami?
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Did she meet Robert Redford on the way?
This poem sparkles like his coat of lights.
Even Cowgirls get the blues, don't they?
Nice one Pat!
d
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I loved that movie, of course, I would love anything with Robert Redford.
Life is just one big rodeo, we hope to ride until the buzzer goes off.
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and create you did, malmadre. whew... excellent observational pen. Loved how you employed the sense of garish glitz to tell the story of the cowgirl's mute sadness inside garish glitz.
Clever, clever word usage... Excellent roundup of an ending too.
Just agonizingly (looking at subject matter) Well Done!
Congratulations on winning a well-deserved shiny with this pen!
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Thank you for a great review, I have no idea where my story sprung from, that girl just stepped into my mind at last minute.
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Fascinating!
This is fascinating work! I love where you went with the contest prompt - very creative, and the imagery paints a picture with words. I can readily envision that girl in the phone booth...
Carol
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Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww, what word usage. It is a story set in many scenes but you have pinpointed this one. Bravo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The reader is drug in.
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As a father, when your little gal calls you have to be there for them.
Like this one alot..
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I enjoyed this poem and felt the sadness behind the glitzy rodeo metaphor.
Thanks for the master class in how to write meaningful poetry.
Love, Peter
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A beautifully desciptive piece Malmadre, well penned my friend. Good luck in the contest...mal
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So well penned. I can see the entire scene in my mind's eye.
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I might write another by this title in a better light for those rhinestone cowgirls.
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Muy Bien!!!!
I loved the subject, the journey and the emotion throughout. You are truly talented! Great piece!!!! Muchas Gracias!!!!
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